EMERGENT LITERACY

Emergent Literacy

You are to observe Two literacy lessons or activity. For each of the lesson or activity you are to provide an evaluation critically analysing the strategies and the resources used to support reading and writing. Use relevant theory to support your views.

This paper intends to conduct an assessment for the literacy in the EYFS. For this purpose observations were carried out in the Borough of East London, Barking & Dagenham. Further, this paper observes two literacy activities and in addition to that after following this activity, this study reflects on the learning and teaching strategies to provide an evaluation of the activity. Moreover, the setting has been critically observed that has provided the foundation and basis for the evaluation and reflection on how children are being educated and how it fits with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). However, for privacy concern the setting is not disclosed in the paper, and also it is not referred any name. All observation notes are available as Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.

To gain better insight of the literacy setting in the early education system, the two critical observations are conducted of the literacy activities by the observer in a Reception class. As observed, the class comprised of twenty five children. In order to supervise and teach the children, one class teacher was assigned to each class along with a teacher's assistant. Narrative observations techniques were used throughout, which provided, in detailed of what the child is doing, for example facial expression & language. Sulzby and Teale (1991: 728) defines Emergent Literacy as 'the earliest phases of literacy development, the period between birth and the time when children read and write conventionally' Palaiologou, (2010, P144) through the reading, children learn to know the written language, the richer and much complex than the spoken language. Further, accordingly teachers can plan their strategies to cater the learning abilities of children.

The process of learning takes place when an individual goes through different stages of cognition. Individuals change their behaviour when they go through a number of cognitive processes, which involves problem solving, remembering, and memorizing. Similarly, teachers may use the aid of cognitive strategies to improve the memory of children and teach them various skills. The cognitive development of young children is an extremely complex process, in which the overall development of a child is embedded.

The first six years of life are very comprehensive. Children are trying to gain general knowledge and pick things whatever that amuses them the most. They only have intuitive understanding of the world. However, researcher has noticed that language skills hold great importance in the process of knowledge gaining of children. Those children, who are better at verbal, may ask multiple questions on different topics. The teacher is required to encourage the habit of questioning. However, there are many aspects where children do not question, there teacher must observe the actions of children or conduct any kind of experiment that shall provide a better insight of children's ...